Dialectic and other Processes

Georg Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)

"Der Begriff Weltgeist als metaphysisches Prinzip ist zunächst bekannt als Zentralbegriff der spekulativen Philosophie Hegels: Für ihn ist die gesamte historische Wirklichkeit, die Totalität, der Prozess des Weltgeistes. Dadurch realisiere sich der „Endzweck“ in der Weltgeschichte, und zwar die „Vernunft in der Geschichte“. (wikipedia)

Some 19th century processes
One common thing that I have noticed in the rise of different branches of scientific research is the focus on processes that take place in time.

One example of this is the rise of modern Geology with the note that geological processes take place in history at equal speed (uniformist principle). Geological cross-sections have layers over layers as evidence of these processes and can be scientifically studied.

The rise of modern Archaeology, the cousin of Geology, can be similarly understood as a consequence of applying the concept of processes in history to archaeological record. Archaeological excavations reveal sequences in periods of occupation. Slowly but surely the fundamental idea evolved into the many branches of research known today as Archaeology.


Of course, history itself is a subject for the study of processes that take place in time and this was among Hegel's main areas of interest. Is there any purpose in all this French Revolution and other stuff?
The scientific and technological revolution in 19th century surely has so many reasons.


Scientific research of literature realised the significance of sources and editing during time. This led also to the revolution in the rise of scientific study of the Bible.

19th century medicine was changed as researchers focused on causes and processes both in getting ill and in treating the diseases.

But under all these and other processes studied by 19th century men and women there was the solid unmoving bedrock of Newtonian Physics and the Laws of Nature that worked like a clock!


Hegelian Dialectics
As a Philosopher Hegel was curious and went on to analyse what actually is a process?

"Hegel developed a comprehensive philosophical framework, or "system", of Absolute idealism to account in an integrated and developmental way for the relation of mind and nature, the subject and object of knowledge, psychology, the state, history, art, religion and philosophy. In particular, he developed the concept that mind or spirit manifested itself in a set of contradictions and oppositions that it ultimately integrated and united, without eliminating either pole or reducing one to the other. Examples of such contradictions include those between nature and freedom, and between immanence and transcendence."
wikipedia

(Nobody says that he is easy read. In fact, Bertrand Russell actually said that Hegel is the most difficult of them all.)

Most of us are familiar with the schema of Hegelian dialectics

THESIS → ANTITHESIS → SYNTHESIS

However influential in modern thinking that pattern can justly be called a simplification of Hegel's own thinking (which we actually badly need...)

Here is an expert description of the same:

Hegelian dialectic, usually presented in a threefold manner, was stated by Heinrich Moritz Chalybäus as comprising three dialectical stages of development: a thesis, giving rise to its reaction, an antithesis, which contradicts or negates the thesis, and the tension between the two being resolved by means of a synthesis.

Although this model is often named after Hegel, he himself never used that specific formulation. Hegel ascribed that terminology to Kant.

Carrying on Kant's work, Fichte greatly elaborated on the synthesis model, and popularized it.

On the other hand, Hegel did use a three-valued logical model that is very similar to the antithesis model, but Hegel's most usual terms were: Abstract-Negative-Concrete. Hegel used this writing model as a backbone to accompany his points in many of his works.

The formula, Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis, does not explain why the Thesis requires an Antithesis.

However, the formula, Abstract-Negative-Concrete, suggests a flaw in any initial thesis—it is too abstract and lacks the negative of trial, error and experience.

For Hegel, the Concrete, the Synthesis, the Absolute, must always pass through the phase of the Negative, that is, Mediation. This is the actual essence of what is popularly called Hegelian Dialectics.

To describe the activity of overcoming the negative, Hegel also often used the term Aufhebung, variously translated into English as "sublation" or "overcoming," to conceive of the working of the dialectic. Roughly, the term indicates preserving the useful portion of an idea, thing, society, etc., while moving beyond its limitations. (Jacques Derrida's preferred French translation of the term was relever).
wikipedia